In our new home, my husband & I found ourselves stargazing early this morning. I'd walked with him around the neighborhood, scaring deer on their early morning walk, and then we drank coffee and talked, as usual, about the kids. We, like most parents, come to these conversations with our own set of biases, predispositions, baggage even, and try to put some sense to that which baffles us. We pray to make 'the best' decisions regarding our children, pray for them to thrive.
I read this article some days ago, presented by the Classical Conversations website, and then found it again on Heidi's blog at Mt. Hope Chronicles. I think the idea of continued adolescence ie; not growing up, is the issue that fights the classical plan. Not one and the same but even God's plans. If I am to disciple my children, lead them to a growing up, passion & embracing God's design for them,,, should I not 'grow up' and move on beyond my adolescent ways?
Over at Simply Charlotte Mason, there has been a 3 part series on The Gentle Art of Education, questioning the idea of 'gentle' (is it?) and also types of educational technique. It just continued the need to 'be the change you want to see'(that's an Oprah quote actually). If you want to disciple children to not embrace adolescent ways, then don't be adolescent in behavior. I won't list mine. I'm not ready for that type of confession, but I know what they are. And eek.. if I'm not working to change them, my kids will know, because they see everything...
I asked a lady friend the other day how they came to homeschool. She said after having an amazing experience in the public schools, they realized they were not the primary influence in their children's lives. Sometimes I long for another more significant influence for my children's lives so I can get it together, be better, or at least not feel so guilty when I'm not doing what I'm supposed to be doing. (There's some honesty for you...) But this is not the case. Whether I did send them somewhere, they are involved with other adults or kids for that matter, I'm still the primary influence. That role doesn't go away. It's just that way. So I can continue to 'waller' or grow up.
